Kentucky State Parks: 8 More Facts You May Not Know

1. Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park (Burkesville) definitely boasts one of the more dramatic lodge locations in the Kentucky State Parks system. The three-story glass and limestone lodge at Dale Hollow is perched on a cliff hundreds of feet above beautiful Dale Hollow Lake. When describing the view, I’d go with breathtaking.
2. Each of the Kentucky State Parks should be visited, enjoyed, and photographed throughout the year. Not only will each have different activities and events each season and not only will the lodge’s decorations change seasonally – Kentucky shows off in different ways each month of the year. A visit to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park (Dawson Springs) will, for example, be an entirely different experience in Autumn from the one you’ll have in Summer.  Each season puts on a spectacular show and you DO NOT want to miss a minute. Sitting in Pennyrile Forest’s Clifty Falls Restaurant (such a view), I can never decide which is the more season offers the most ridiculously beautiful view.  When the trees are in full bloom during the summer, the view is gorgeous, but when the leaves are different colors during fall, you find it difficult to look away. Spring is a time when everything’s coming alive in the State Parks and there’s a certain feeling of re-birth that’s palpable.  For those who, like me, love spring flowers, it’s a great time for daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, irises, etc. Winter is even a special time at state parks! If you’re lucky enough to see a light dusting of snow over a lake or wooded forest, the sight will stop you in your tracks. The bird and animal lover in me appreciates something else about winter – it’s easier to see (and photograph) birds without all of the leaves!  Also, as any birder knows, different seasons bring different birds to the area.
3. Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn) is a nature lover’s paradise. If you love wildflowers and trees, you might want to plan your trip now. The park is filled with beautiful wildflowers during spring and summer, but one of its busiest times is October. Everyone loves fall foliage and Buckhorn puts on a show that few can rival. If you want to visit the lodge during October, be sure to reserve accommodations several months in advance.
4. The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show over the lake is also incredibly popular at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn). Did you know that thousands attend each year?
5. Fishtrap Lake State Park (Shelbiana, near Pikeville) has one of the more unusual names in the state park system. It gets its name from the cage-like wooden “traps” pioneers saw Native American Indians using to catch fish.  Today you are likely to catch catfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, and hybrid striped, largemouth, and smallmouth bass.
6. Greenbo Lake and, thereby Greenbo State Resort Park (Greenup), are named in honor of residents from two counties: Greenup and Boyd Counties.
7. 225-acre Greenbo Lake is considered to be one of the best lakes for catching largemouth bass.  In fact, this lake is home of two state largemouth bass records!  Greenbo Lake also holds large bluegill, crappie, catfish, and trout.  A special program at Greeenbo (details available at the park’s marina) is the  fishing loaner program where overnight guests can check out FREE equipment. How cool’s that?
8. The Great American Dulcimer Convention at Pine Mountain State Resort Park (Pineville) is, to say the least, a wildly popular event. Since 1977 the greatest dulcimer players from all over America have gathered at Pine Mountain State Resort Park to make beautiful music and fun memories. Read more about The Great American Dulcimer Convention at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. What is a dulcimer? A dulcimer can refer to two types of musical instruments: Appalachian dulcimer, a fretted, plucked musical instrument which is also referred to as a “mountain dulcimer”, “lap dulcimer”, “fretted dulcimer”, or “hog fiddle” or a Hammered dulcimer, a hammer-struck, trapezoid-shaped musical instrument.

The Dulcimer (pictured above) is apparently a pretty popular instrument with incredibly enthusiastic fans. When you search for “Dulcimer Festivals,” Google brings up hundreds of thousands of results! How’s that for passionate fans?